A Cook Islands environmental body is warning the government that the planned amendments to the Marine Resources Bill are seriously flawed.
Photo: RNZI / Megan Whelan
Te Ipukarea's Kelvin Passfield said the bill is similar to the old one in that there is too much authority given to the Secretary and the Minister for Marine Resources.
He said it's like the fox being in charge of the hen house, with the body overseeing marine resources also responsible for marine conservation.
Mr Passfield said there has to be more accountability and this could be done through a committee comprised of a range of people within Cook Islands society.
"People with expertise in the fisheries sector, and people with foreign affairs knowledge, traditional leaders of the country - under the constitution they have a right to be consulted and it is not happening, and NGOs, such as ourselves, who have special interest in the marine sector. We should all be included in a marine committee."